I’m not so concerned w cost, I have good insurance. It’s the real world take from someone in a similar boat. Thank you for your thoughts. I was curious about driving as well. I’m 6-6 300 and barely fit anyway .
Just know that even with good insurance I've talked to amputees who have had major issues getting new sockets or a different foot approved.
My current foot from Ossur costs $20K and that is just the foot.
Then the socket costs about another $6-10K to make. And I have 3 different sockets & 4 different feet.
My family doctor asked me about 3 weeks ago how I felt about having the amputation done since it had been just over 4 years. And I said I'd do it all over again. I have NO regrets at all. Sure some things are a PITA and you have to pay more attention when walking over uneven ground type stuff but I wouldn't go back at all. Not having all the pain I was in prior to my amputation is HUGE.
I'm only 5' 10" but I was a little north of 300lbs prior to my amputation because I couldn't move.
Finally picked up my new socket today. This is the leg I wear when riding my Harley. It's setup for boots with a taller heel like motorcycle boots or cowboy boots or snowpaks.
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While I was visiting with my prostheses, and he was checking things he noticed a noise coming from my foot. So, he pulled everything apart to look at the moving parts of the foot itself. Then he went and checked, and I'd gotten this foot on 08/2019 which makes it just over 3 years old. He couldn't find anything broken or that the carbon fiber blades were delaminating. But he did notice some movement in the bushings. Since the Ossur Pro-Pivot is a fairly new product there isn't any projected life span for it. But he thinks with the amount of activity I do and the stuff I do like moving engine & drivetrain parts that a 3-year life span about right. So, I'll have to get in contact with the VA here in next month or so and get them to authorize me getting a new foot. The MSRP on this foot is $20K and the VA pays about $16K for it.
The other COOL thing is that he's been using a new process to make the socket and uses a mix of kevlar and carbon fiber which makes the socket even lighter than just the carbon fiber type.
A noise is gonna cost you $4k?
No, the foot isn't rebuildable so it'll have to be replaced at some point or if I don't, I could end up with some serious death wobble. The more serious part is that if I don't replace it that it could break on me when I was walking or trying to carry something heavy and end up hurting myself worse. The MSRP is $20K while the VA's cost is $16K due to the volume they buy. It doesn't cost me anything.
If they pay for it all then good deal.
Yes but think about the people with shitty insurance or even OK insurance. They have to pay thru the nose and most times the insurance companies won't authorize the new foot or socket until the person is going crazy.
They wouldn’t cost so much if there was no insurance